Apparatus for flushing water-closets



S. S. WILLIAMSON.

APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING WATER CLOSETS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-4, I917- Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

14/7/7 22 L ca & A @{W W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL S. WILLIAMSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ECONOMY TOILET FLUSH COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR FLUSH ING WATER-CLOSETS.

Application filed September 4, 1917.

1 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. lVLL- LIAMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Tmprovements in Apparatus for Flushing lVater- Closets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for flushing water closets and has for its object to provide a simple and effective device of this character which will deliver a given quantity of water from the'tank to the bowl.

A further object of my invention is to so construct the device that the siphon element may be molded of porcelain or other clay products and have fitted thereto a metal spud for attaching it to the tank.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means for admitting air at a predetermined time to the crown of the siphon so asto break the seal of said siphon thereby stopping the overflow of the flush water; this means being adjustable so that the amount of water the siphon will deliver may be changed.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which Figure 1, is a side elevation of a siphon apparatus, shownas secured in a flush tank, the tank being in section and a portio thereof broken away.

Fig. 2, is an end elevation.

Fig. 3, is a plan view, the tank and operating lever thereof being omitted.

Fig. 4, is a section at the line 1'-1 show ing the dam at the bottom of the outlet.

Fig. 5, is an enlarged section of the spring actuating member.

Fig. 6, is a central, vertical section of one form of my invention.

Fig. 7, is a rear elevation of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8, is a bottom plan thereof.

Fig. 9, is a section at the line 2-2 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 10, is a side' elevation of the spud Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Serial No. 189,461.

used in the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive.

Fig. 1 1, is a fragmentary perspective view or the siphon on a reduced scale.

In carrying out my invention as embodied in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 provide a siphon which consists of an intake memher or hood 1, connected at its upper portion with a crown member 2, the latter in turn merging into the downtake or outlet member 3. This outlet member is of less capacity than the crown member, so as to choke or 'dam the outflowing water at the point 4, for the purpose hereafter set forth.

The outlet member 3 is formed with or attached to the spud 5, which latter is adapted to pass through the bottom of the tank 6 and be secured thereto by a nut 7, run upon the threaded end of said spud.

A dam 8 is placed across the spud as shown in Fig. l to crowd the outflow of the water at this point, to the extent of preventing the air from boring a hole through the center of the column of water, which action would unseal the siphon. 9 represents a by-pass which consists of a pipe leading from the top of the crown to a point below the normal or high water level at which it is intended that the siphon shall break, or the predetermined low water level. Thus when the water reaches this level, the open end of the bypass will be exposed and air entering the same will flow to the top of the crown where it will enter the siphon above the water therein, breaking the seal and stopping the siphon action, as will be readily understood. In order that the low water level may notonly be predetermined but changed, I provide two or more openings at diiferent heights in the lower portion of the by-pass, fitting the same withplugs 10, which may be removed and changed to give an air inlet to the by-pass' at a point desired for the low water level.

This by-pass performs the further important function of permitting the water in the intake side of the siphon to flow back into the tank when the siphon is'unsealed without undue gurgling which would be caused by the air having to force its way through the downward moving body of water.

A l f lad 11 is eu t e h ft. 2

and by it hinged within the hood 1 in such' this is important where a large capacity siphon is used such as called for by present day practice in low flush tanks.

It will be understood that the bypass will be water sealed during the operation of the siphon and remain so until one of the openings in its lower portion is exposed to theair by the falling of the water level, when the delivery of air from the point to the interior of the crown will break the siphonic action.

In order that the water in the hood may 1 be given a quick upward movement irrespectlve of the speed at which the operating levermaybe moved I provide a secondary operating lever 14 which is connected by a spring actuating member 15 to the crank 16 formed with or secured to the shaft 12. Thisspring actuating member consists of a casing 17 to which is secured the wire 18 connecting with the eye 19 of said crank. Within the casing is a spring 20 through which passes a wire 21, the upper end thereof being connected with the secondary operating lever 14 at the stud 22. The wire 21 has a head 23thereon against the lower end of which the spring bears, the upper end of said spring bearing against the closed end of the casing. In assembling this device the spring is put under sufficient tension to swing the lift blade 11 while lifting the water in the hood by the head 23 resting on the upper portion of the wire 18.

The lever 14 is pivoted to the siphon at 24 and has connected therewith the lift wire 25 by an elongated. loop 26, so as to provide lost motion at this point. The upper end of vthis wire is pivoted to the primary operating lever 27 adapted to be actuated by the usual thumb knob .or lever.

As shown the crank is set at such an angle relative to the lift blade 11 that when the parts are in their normal positions the wire 18 falls to the rear of the center of the shaft 12, so that when the outer end of the seca stop 28; butwhenthe stud 22 reaches the point a the wire 18 will have passed to the opposite side of the center of the shaft 12 permitting the lower end of the crank to be swung to the point b by the force previously stored in the spring. This action will give the lift blade 11 a quick upward movement carrying sufiicient water over the crown to more than fill the latter down to the point 4. At this time the blade will be in approximately a vertical position permitting the waterto continue to flow through the siphon until its seal is broken by the entrance of air at the lower portion of the by-pass as before described. When the seal of the siphon is broken the parts will return totheir normal positions.

In order that the normal position of the lift blade may not be disturbed should the inlet valve of the tank leak, I provide an overflow opening 29 in the hood, so that such inleaking water may flow into the hood above the lift blade and thus pass over the crown and out of the outlet.

In Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive I have shown a form of my invention which is especially adapted to be made from porcelain or other clay products in which the hood 31, crown 32 and outlet member 33 are of a single piece, the partition 34 producing the proper spacing and contour.

I have here shown the outlet member as having two directions, the upper portion leading down at one angle to the point 35 and the lower portion leading from thence downward at a different angle, the object being to check or choke the outflowing water at this point so as to effectively seal the siphon above this point.

The base 36 of this siphon is offset and formed to receive the cap 37 of the spud 38 after the manner of a housing; the cap having a threaded stud 39 projecting upward therefrom through a hole in the base.

40 is a nut run upon the threaded stud for clamping the base and spud together, a soft packing 41 being interposed between the flange 42 of the base and the flange 43 of the spud, and also a like washer between the nut and the base to seal the joints between the base and spud.

The cap 37 formed withthe spud is in the shape of a quadrant having its face open to permit the water flow therethrough and this abrupt turn in the water passage will choke the water at this point and prevent the air from boring a hole. through the center thereof. 7

The by-pass 44 is formed upon the rear wall of the outlet member having an opening into the crown at 45 and two openings 46 in its lower portion leading to the interior of the tank below the high water level. A plug 47 is'used to close one or the other of these openings so as to determine the low waterlevel at which the siphon will be unsealed.

48 represents the lift blade which is socured to the crank shaft 49, the latter being journaled in slots 50 formed in the hood and held therein by the plate 5l,'which in turn is removably secured in place by the pin 52 passing through the walls of the hood and the flanges of the plate. This pin 52 also serves as a stop to limit the downward movement of the lift blade, the upward limit of swing of said blade being determined by lip 53 of the partition against which the blade strikes as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, 54 is the overflow inlet to the hood 31.

The crank 55 of the crank shaft 49 may be attached to any suitable operating mechanism.

lVhile this form of flush siphon is especially adapted to be molded. for clay products, it may be cast from metal or be formed from sheet metal, also the by-pass may be located on any desired or convenient part thereof instead of the rear wall of the outlet member.

Of course I do not wish to limit my invention to the exact details of construction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and useful is 1. In a flush tank, a siphon having an intake hood, a crown, an outlet member and a spud connected with the base of said outlet member, a lift blade pivoted within said hood, a crank attached to said blade, an overflow inlet adapted to admit water to the hood above normal position of the blade, at by-pass connecting the interior of the tank with the interior of the crown, and means manually controlled for automatically giving the blade a quick upward swing within the hood.

2. In combination with a flush siphon manually actuated mechanism a swinging blade for starting the siphonic action, a crank secured to said blade, a power storing mechanism so attached to the crank as to swing the same at a predetermined time relative to the movement of the manually actuated mechanism.

In combination with a-flush siphon and the lift blade thereof, a crank secured to said blade, secondar operating lever a compressed spring interposed between said crank and lever, means for connecting said crank and lever to said spring in such mannor as to cause the crank to remain at rest until the secondary lever has been move-d a predetermined distance and then swing said crank by the action of the spring, and means for actuating said lever manually.

el. In combination with a flush tank and the hand operating mechanism thereof, a siphon having an outlet through the bottom of said tank, a lift blade fitted to swing within the intake end of said siphon, a crank secured to said blade, a primary operating lever connected with the hand operating mechanism. a secondary operating lever pivoted to the siphon, a lift wire connecting these two operating levers so to have lost motion between the same and means for connecting the secondary operating lever and the crank, said means consisting of a wire attached to the last named lever, a head upon said wire, a casing into which said wire projects, a spring compressed between said head and one end of the casing and a second wire attached to the casing and crank; said connecting means being so placed relative to the secondary operating lever and the crank as to hold the crank against movement while the secondary lever is being lifted and start the swinging of said crank when the secondary lever is fully lifter...

5. In combination with a flush siphon and the lift blade thereof, a crank secured to said blade, a quick action operating mechanism for actuating said crank, said operating mechanism consisting of a secondary operating lever pivoted to the siphon, a wire attached to said lever, a head upon one end of said wire, a casing into which said wire projects, a spring compressed between said head and one end of the casing and a second wire attached to the casing and crank; said wires, casing and spring being so located relative to the said crank and lever as to hold the crank at rest while the secondary lever is being lifted and then actuate the crank by the reaction of the spring; and means for actuating the secondary operating lever by hand.

6. In combination with a flush siphon of the character described, a crank shaft j ournaled in open slots formed in the side walls of the intake portion of said siphon, a flanged plate adapted to close said slots to retain said shaft therein, a pin passing through the flange of said plate and side wall of said intake for securing. the plate in place, and a lift blade secured to the crank shaft and adapted to normally rest upon the pin.

7 In combination with a siphon of the character described a spud adapted to be secured through the bottom of a flush tank, a cap formed with said spud, said cap being in the form of a quadrant having an open face for the passage of water and a threaded stud formed with the cap.

8. In combination with a flush tank siphon, a dam in the form of a strip extending across the center of the outlet of said siphon.

the center of the column of water flowing through said outlet member.

10. A flush siphon comprising an earth enware one-piece inlet hood, crown, outlet member and base, the latter underlying the inlet hood, said outlet member having a bypass formed in one wall thereof leading from the exterior of the siphon by a number of inlets below the bottom of the crown to the interior of said siphon above the bottom of said crown.

11. A flush siphon comprising an earthenware one-piece inlet hood, crown, outlet member and base, the latter underlying the inlet hood, said base being opened at its lower end and having a hole at the upper portion thereof in combination with a spud having a cap for insertion into the base through its open end, said cap having a threaded stud projecting through the hole, a packing interposed between the base and spud and means threaded on the stud for drawing and fastening the parts together.

12. As a new article of manufacture a SAMUEL S. WILLIAMSON. I 

